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The latest Envy x360 15-inch convertible is strikingly similar to the previous ones. And as before, it’s here to convince us that it can do it all: be a laptop, be a tablet, play some games, do some work, all for an affordable price… but is it really the ideal choice for these tasks?

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Between the high-end (and often highly acclaimed) HP Spectre notebooks and the low-end Pavilion line rests the HP Envy series. Arguably a bit of a misnomer, this line of machines is rarely responsible for trendsetting or boundary-pushing, but nevertheless it is appealing enough to the average consumer with the average budget.

The notebook we’re evaluating today, the HP Envy x360 15t-w200, falls squarely into that category, seeking mid-range success and nothing more. This is in spite of its capable Intel Core i5-and switchable graphics, and alongside its comfortable (at first glance) 15.6-inch 1080p touchscreen. Accompanying these specifications are a much less impressive 1 TB 5400 RPM mechanical hard drive, a relatively ordinary case design, and the questionable prospect of convertible tablet functionality (in light of its large size and somewhat prohibitive weight). The Envy x360 wants to do it all on a limited budget.

At a street price of under $700, can the Envy x360 appeal to the budget-conscious, average consumer who’s still seeking a compelling package?

Case

Seams are visible in the plastic perimeter

Like many machines in its segment, the Envy x360 is constructed primarily out of plastic but features metal accents in areas which matter most—the display lid and top cover, specifically, which are both lined with a sheet of brushed aluminum. Although the aluminum is thin and lacks the luxurious feel of, say, an Apple MacBook or Dell XPS 13, it does provide some rigidity to these regions. There is consequently very little flex present on the base unit, and the display lid—while not exactly sturdy and lined with a silver plastic perimeter—resists torsion moderately well. Aesthetically, the aluminum is also pleasing to the eye, and it resists fingerprints and oils better than many alternatives.

The machine carries a look which is neither cheap nor expensive. Seams in plastic are visible and gaps are not perfectly even in all areas (see our photos for examples). Still, from a distance, it's attractive enough.

The 360-degree hinges support the screen well, but they allow too much bounce than is ideal for comfortable touchscreen operation; taps on the screen inevitably produce vibration which lasts a few seconds each, and coupled with the glossy finish and poor screen brightness (more on this in a bit), it’s an unfortunate experience. The notebook also cannot be opened with one hand; doing so will lift the base unit off the surface.

We must once again admit our puzzlement at the endurance of the 15.6-inch convertible notebook trend; not only is it impractical due to the sheer size of the machine, but the weight (2.3 kg) is nothing convenient to hold in tablet form. Its only plausible uses are on a counter or table for quick reference at a distance or on a couch or bed streaming video in lieu of a nearby television. Nevertheless, it’s been years now since we first saw this design, and the same limitations still apply.

Communication

The Intel WLAN adapter

The Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 managed solid network connectivity during our testing period and has long been a popular choice amongst OEMs. This adapter includes Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity as well. A Realtek Gigabit Ethernet port is also included thanks to the sufficiently-sized case of the 15t.

Accessories and Warranty

Maintenance

In another knock against practicality, the Envy x360 possesses a terribly inconvenient maintenance design which involves significant disassembly just to reach the most basic components. The first step is to carefully remove eight covers from the bottom of the machine, including all four rubber feet. Next, twelve screws are removed, after which the unit is flipped back over. Then, a plastic scribe must be used to carefully pry the entire aluminum top cover out of its bordering plastic surround, disengaging numerous clips along the way and taking great care not to damage any perimeter ports in the process.

Three separate ZIF connectors must be carefully disconnected during this step before the cover can be placed aside. Finally, the user can now access most replaceable parts, including the battery, the storage drive, the WLAN adapter, and the system fan. It is worth noting that in order for RAM replacements and upgrades to take place, the entire system board must be removed. The keyboard, meanwhile, cannot be replaced; the entire top cover is one single, monolithic piece, with the keyboard riveted using plastic rivets to the underside.

Careful with the ZIF connectors while diassembling.

The keyboard is monolithically riveted to the top cover.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The keyboard on the 15t-w200 is more comfortable than what we recall from previous iterations. Although the key travel is still relatively short, the feedback is crisper and as such adjustment to typing on it is more rapid than it is with some other Ultrabook keyboards. The keys also lack the clattery sensation that many budget models exude, instead managing a more tightly-constructed sensation. It’s still merely an above-average keyboard and nowhere near the quality of a ThinkPad or Latitude, but it fits the target market just fine. Also included are a keyboard backlight and—thanks to the oversized form factor—a numeric keypad to the right.

Touchpad

The Synaptics touchpad, meanwhile, though large and spacious, is constructed of plastic (not glass, like that of many high-end models) and features a perceptible delay between movement and pointer response. The integrated buttons are also nothing special, rendering drag-and-drop operations sometimes infuriating, as integrated buttons tend to do. Overall, it’s not a bad touchpad, but it’s nothing remarkable and absolutely will beget the acquisition of a wireless mouse to offset its inadequacies.

Touchscreen

Fortunately, the x360 also features a touchscreen for easy navigation, though as previously mentioned, the bouncy hinges do it no favors in either laptop or stand form. The screen itself (lined with a sheet of protective plastic, not Gorilla Glass or similar) responds to touch perfectly however.

Display

Subpixel layout

While the Envy x360 15t’s display has improved over that of the Envy 15-w000ng we reviewed last September, it’s still disappointing. The 15t-w200 features a 15.6-inch 1920x1080 IPS display panel, which factors out to a PPI of 141 (acceptable for most uses). The panel adopts a high-gloss, edge-to-edge finish which is highly reflective. Subjectively, the picture appears rather drab and washed-out, with whites appearing greyish and colors lacking any sort of saturated pop.